Tics are sudden, recurrent, rapid, non-rhythmic, involuntary movements or sounds that can be described as simple (involving one or a few muscles or sounds) or complex (involving groups of muscles or syllables, words, or phrases). Tourette’s disorder is a childhood-onset, neuropsychiatric condition that is the most complex of the tic disorders; it is characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics lasting more than one year.

Because it is not uncommon for other anxiety disorders or mood or behavioral disorders to co-occur with tics and/or OCD, especially in youth, our Division takes a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment in order to provide developmentally-appropriate and specialized care for each of our patients.

Our Treatment Offerings

DTOR’s clinical services for tic disorders and OCD include in-depth assessments and multidisciplinary evaluations as well as evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), specialized psychotherapies, medication consultation, and ongoing pharmacological treatment. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is also offered for adults with chronic, severe, and treatment-resistant OCD.